Illinois Paralegal Schools
There are several Illinois paralegal schools where one can earn a paralegal degree and enter this growing job field that is expected to grow by nearly a third in the coming decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Being a paralegal is a rewarding career, and there are opportunities to pursue this vocation through both on-campus and online paralegal degree programs. Although the state of Illinois does not require paralegals to have a degree, a wider range of opportunities and a higher salary are reasons for pursuing a degree in paralegal or legal studies.
Paralegal Schools in Illinois
There are many campus-based paralegal degree programs in Illinois that are ABA approved. Some programs offer an associate’s degree (Radford Career College and the Chicago, Orland Park, and Springfield campuses of Robert Morris College), and some offer both an associate’s degree and a post-degree certificate (College of Lake County, Elgin Community College, Illinois Central College, Kankakee Community College, South Suburban College, and Harper College). Northwestern College offers a certificate and associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Loyola University-Chicago, Roosevelt University, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offer bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies. Loyola and Roosevelt also offer post-degree certificates. Two programs are not ABA-approved, but are accredited: Brown Mackie College, accredited by ACICS, offers a diploma in the paralegal assistant program, and Rasmussen College, which is HLC accredited, offers an associate’s in paralegal.
There are also several online paralegal degree programs that are available that offer an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree (Kaplan University – School of Legal Studies, Hodges University, and Keiser University).
Illinois Paralegal Professional Associations
If you are interested in learning about becoming a paralegal in Illinois, you might contact one of the paralegal organizations, the Central Illinois Paralegal Association, the Heart of Illinois Paralegal Association, or the Illinois Paralegal Association.
Illinois Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected 28% growth in the profession in the decade of 2008-2018, so becoming a paralegal is an excellent career option for many. The middle 50% of paralegals in Illinois earn between $45,027 and $58,777 annually. Salary figures vary depending on geographic location, as paralegals in Chicago, for example, are likely to earn more than those in more rural areas.
Online and Illinois Paralegal Schools
Everest University Online
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- Paralegal (Associate's)
- Paralegal (Bachelor's)
- Criminal Justice (Associate's)
Keiser University
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- Paralegal Studies, AA (Online)
- Criminal Justice, AA (Online)
Kaplan University
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- BS in Paralegal Studies
- AAS in Paralegal Studies
- MS in Legal Studies - Education and the Legal System
Brown Mackie College
Campuses: Merrillville
Popular Degrees:
- Certificate in Paralegal Assistant
- Associate of Science in Paralegal
- Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
Northwestern College
Campuses: Chicago
Popular Degrees:
- Paralegal Certificate
- Paralegal
- Criminal Justice
Daymar College
Campuses: Paducah
Popular Degrees:
- Paralegal Studies - Associate
- Criminal Justice Administration - Bachelor
Penn Foster Schools
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- Paralegal
- Legal Secretary
- Administrative Assistant
Stratford Career Institute
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal
- Administrative/Secretarial
University of Phoenix
Campuses: Warrenville
Popular Degrees:
- BS in Criminal Justice Administration - Institutional Healthcare
- BS in Criminal Justice Administration - Management
- BS in Criminal Justice Administration - Human Services
Featured Paralegal School in IL
MacCormac College (Chicago, IL) >>Request Information!
www.maccormac.edu
(312) 922-1884
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Court Reporting
Associate of Applied Science | Court Reporting
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Legal Office Technology
Paralegal Schools in Illinois
Brown Mackie College (Moline, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Diploma | Paralegal Assistant
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College (Chicago, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal
College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies
College of Lake County (Grayslake, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies
Elgin Community College (Elgin, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal
Vocational Certificate | Paralegal
Ellis University (Chicago, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies (online program)
Bachelor of Arts | Paralegal Studies (online program)
Harper College (Palatine, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Kankakee Community College (Kankakee, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies
Certificate | Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies
Kaplan University (Chicago, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal (online program)
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Paralegal Studies
Post Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal
Lewis and Clark Community College (Godfrey, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal
Certificate of Proficiency | Paralegal
Lewis University (Romeoville, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Paralegal Studies
Northwestern College (Bridgeview, IL; Chicago, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal (online program)
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal
Certificate | Paralegal
Rasmussen College (Aurora, IL; Rockford, IL; Romeoville, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal
Associate Degree | Paralegal (online program)
Robert Morris University (Chicago, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Professional Studies | Law Office Administration
Rockford Career College (Rockford, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal
Diploma | Legal Secretary
Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Paralegal
Certificate | Paralegal
Diploma | Paralegal
South Suburban College (South Holland, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Court Reporting/Verbatim Technology
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Associate of Applied Science | Court Reporting
Certificate | Court Reporting
Certificate | Court Reporting/Verbatim Technology
Certificate | Court Reporting/Verbatim Technology Basic
Certificate | Court Reporting/Verbatim Technology Machine Shorthand Secretarial
Certificate | Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (Carbondale, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Paralegal Studies
Southwestern Illinois College (Belleville, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate in Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Sparks College (Shelbyville, IL)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Court Reporting (online program)
